Palestinians hang decorations beside the rubble of destroyed homes as they prepare for the holy month of Ramadan in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, on Sunday, February 15, 2026. [Abdel Kareem Hana/AP]
In its first international mission with a ground force since being part of ISAF in Afghanistan, Greece will participate in the International Stabilization Force in Gaza.
The presence of a Greek battalion in a hot spot in a region close to Greece represents a welcome departure from an approach followed by many governments of the past, of not getting involved in volatile regions, the result of domestic opposition to putting Greek forces in harm’s way.
This, in essence, signaled an unwillingness to be a player on the international stage, which in turn limited the country’s ability to have an impact on developments.
Things have changed. There is a realization that if one wants to be heard, one has to be actively engaged, including in dangerous situations and under challenging circumstances.
The Greek involvement in the multilateral effort to bring stability in the Middle East – part of the Gaza peace plan agreed to by Hamas and Israel last October and mandated by the United Nations – will not be confined to a secondary role, as was the case in Afghanistan where the Greek contingent dealt with distributing medical supplies and humanitarian assistance, helping in reconstruction, and clearing minefields.
This time the Greek component of the Stabilization Force will not be made up of only medics and engineers, but will instead have armored vehicles and will take a more active part in managing the situation and consolidating the peace and guarding security.
The Greek battalion, which will most likely consist of about 100-150 personnel, will be deployed within the security perimeter established in Gaza by the Israel Defense Forces, and will be part of an initially 8,000-strong force, led by the US Central Command and in which Egypt and Israel – countries with which Greece is closely cooperating in many sectors, including defense – will play a leading role.
Athens was among the first to respond positively to Washington’s proposal for creating such a force. It was the right decision as it is obvious that a more active presence beyond Greece’s borders – not in any aggressive posture, but as part of well established international efforts – can only enhance its influence.